Boro Match Thread

[Zana Badawi]

The club sacked two managers in one season and lost their footing. Is that what Reading fans want, sacking managers after a few games, putting the club in financial trouble? Since his arrival, he's steadied the ship and they will be promoted to the Premiership no doubt. I applaud him and the fans, I wish ours would be just as patient, that's all.

Then if we follow the Leicester model, we need to sack a second manager (Adkins) and put our faith in the next one.
Plus Leicester had money - it wasn't so long ago they were writing off 5 million on Matt Mills. Pearson inherited that windfall in one way or another.
For every Pearson, there is a Keane at Ipswich - a manager given time, who never rises to the challenge. Or a Mowbray at Middlesborough - looks good, plenty of time, never achieved it. They are two championship clubs who once harboured ambitions to return to the Premiership, but have been waiting a long time now.. That could just as easily be us in five years time if we back the wrong manager. You might believe we'll do a Leicester, but there's no evidence to suggest we will - it still requires a leap of faith to make the connection between us and them.

[Big Ern]

So how much do think we are paying players like Drenthe compared to teenagers such as Long and Glyfi? What other manager of this club could ever have contemplated signing a 26 year old who used play for Real Madrid? Some of you live in Cloud Cuckoo Land.

Well we must be neighbours then.

I am certain the club would not break their rigid pay structure to accommodate one player, irrespective of who he has played for in his career. If thats the case then ALfie started his career at Man Utd, I doubt very much we are breaking the pay structure for him.

Le Fondre had a 6 week trial at Man Utd. when he was 7 years old.
How is that at all similar to Real Madrid paying 14 million euros for a 20 year-old Drenthe?

The game home and abroad is littered with plays that signed for big clubs while at a young age, yet failed to develop or deliver on their early promise due to a variety of reasons. Doesn't mean they still get a 'Real Madrid' wages now.

[P!ssed Off]

Well we must be neighbours then.

I am certain the club would not break their rigid pay structure to accommodate one player, irrespective of who he has played for in his career. If thats the case then ALfie started his career at Man Utd, I doubt very much we are breaking the pay structure for him.

Le Fondre had a 6 week trial at Man Utd. when he was 7 years old.
How is that at all similar to Real Madrid paying 14 million euros for a 20 year-old Drenthe?

The game home and abroad is littered with plays that signed for big clubs while at a young age, yet failed to develop or deliver on their early promise due to a variety of reasons. Doesn't mean they still get a 'Real Madrid' wages now.

Cummings (ex-Chelsea) would have been a far better comparison than Le Fondre who merely had a trial at United when he was 7.
You don't get much more 'rose from the lower leagues' than Le Fondre imo.

[Big Ern]

In which case look at Cummings. Just because he played for Chelsea doesn't mean he gets "Chelsea Level" wages.

p.s Thanks for the tip

[Woodcote Royal]

Why the need for the constant insults Woodcote? You're actually quite vile on here. Bit unnecessary.

But anyway - if it makes you happy you carry on thinking Adkins wanted Drenthe here. Deluded.

I'm deluded and now I'm vile

Absolutely priceless If we were talking about our top goal scorer who can't get on the pitch even when we're 3-0 down, this increasingly desperate support for Adkins might have a crum of credibility but Drenthe has been one of our better players and Adkins has shown little reluctance to play him when fit.

Just trying to support the club. Perhaps you should try it sometime. You never know you might like it.

And Drenthe is in no condition for a supposed professional footballer. It's an embarrassment that a pro of his 'stature' could let themselves go like that. And today he was out for 'personal reasons' whatever the hell that means so don't try to spin that on Adkins.

If all this is true, what sort of manager does it make Adkins? What's the point of a manager who allows himself to be surrounded by players he doesn't want

He clearly doesn't want to play our top striker but seems incapable of dropping a player he, apparently, didn't want us to sign, unless he's unfit or unavailable for personal reasons.............................all this makes your undying support for him ever more bizarre.

And, FTR if I didn't support this club, I'm fcuked if I'd continue to pay for a seat I have held for 12 years but have no plans to use for the foreseeable future.

[AirRaidSiren]

The club sacked two managers in one season and lost their footing. Is that what Reading fans want, sacking managers after a few games, putting the club in financial trouble? Since his arrival, he's steadied the ship and they will be promoted to the Premiership no doubt. I applaud him and the fans, I wish ours would be just as patient, that's all.

Then if we follow the Leicester model, we need to sack a second manager (Adkins) and put our faith in the next one.
Plus Leicester had money - it wasn't so long ago they were writing off 5 million on Matt Mills. Pearson inherited that windfall in one way or another.
For every Pearson, there is a Keane at Ipswich - a manager given time, who never rises to the challenge. Or a Mowbray at Middlesborough - looks good, plenty of time, never achieved it. They are two championship clubs who once harboured ambitions to return to the Premiership, but have been waiting a long time now.. That could just as easily be us in five years time if we back the wrong manager. You might believe we'll do a Leicester, but there's no evidence to suggest we will - it still requires a leap of faith to make the connection between us and them.

Or an Adkins that turned his previous club from a Division 1 side and guided them into the Premiership, with that club being in a hell of a worse state than the current one he is at.

No, there is no evidence Adkins will do a Leicester, 4 months into his first season here. How can there be?

Adkins may not get us to where we want to be, but I'm willing to give him a bloody chance to try.

[Royal Rother]

Surely SDR is going to show up tonight with some words of widsommmmmmmmm?

[MmmMonsterMunch]

If all this is true, what sort of manager does it make Adkins? What's the point of a manager who allows himself to be surrounded by players he doesn't want

He clearly doesn't want to play our top striker but seems incapable of dropping a player he, apparently, didn't want us to sign, unless he's unfit or unavailable for personal reasons.............................all this makes your undying support for him ever more bizarre.

And, FTR if I didn't support this club, I'm fcuked if I'd continue to pay for a seat I have held for 12 years but have no plans to use for the foreseeable future.

Because maybe Drenthe is one of the few players that actually have some level of technical ability in this team? Must be quite frustrating trying to manage a player like that I'd expect. Plenty of other managers have probably also failed to control Drenthe judging by his track record.

Sniping aside, who in our team is actually confident on the ball bar Bridge (injured), Drenthe (when fit or not AWOL) or Pog? Perhaps Sharp or Baird? Not many of them...

[Cureton's Volley]

Surely SDR is going to show up tonight with some words of widsommmmmmmmm?

I was thinking the same thing and relishing the prospect. Always a chuckle raised when he gets the overly defensive lot on here chasing their tails

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Real factsssssssssssss

[Man Friday]

So those dreadful performances, valuable points gift-wrapped to our relegation rivals and the table itself were all figments of my imagination?

Agree though, he isn't the type to take satisfaction from what is happening now. I suspect that, having had to put up with god knows how many disappointing transfer windows under Madejski and Hammond, he will be feeling a lot of sympathy towards Adkins.

He was robbed of 6-7 points by terrible officiating (Chelsea, Viila, Man City - the push, and a couple of others). Small clubs like us don't stand a chance.

But that's what tends to happen against those big clubs. That's why you have to win your games against the other 'smaller' clubs who are down the bottom with you and McDermott and his squad failed dismally in that respect. That is why he ended up getting sacked (add to that the fact that he p*ssed away what little transfer money there was on 'ones for the future').

But don't we want Nige to build for the future? ("Expansive football" etc.) How come Brian wasn't allowed to? He would have kept us up (which Nige spectacularly failed to do).

[Avon Royal]

Surely SDR is going to show up tonight with some words of widsommmmmmmmm?

SDR is Sandman isn't he?

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Quality fishing there Man Friday. Adkins was definitely responsible for our relegation.

[paddy20]

Cut our losses before its too late. He has almost a year to adapt our playing style and it has failed miserably. Ready made replacement in Phil Parkinson. Someone that can explain passion and commitment and get the fans back onside. If this continues our crowd will half and we will be fighting relegation. If its taken Adkins this long to say its not good enough while still mentioning we were unlucky at times then the man is deluded.

[Man Friday]

Quality fishing there Man Friday. Adkins was definitely responsible for our relegation.

Agreed.

[Half Horse]

So far this season I've only seen one half of decent football, which of course, was Watford. I was at Leicester on Boxing Day and the first half was poor and frankly, I didn't think the second half was much better.

I don't much like Adkins and his "positive speak" and I don't much care for the football he plays nor his team selections or his substitutions. However, I firmly believe we should have given Rodgers more time and the same applies to Adkins. You can't change the philosophy of a club and playing style in a few months and I think he should be given to the end of next season.

Don't forget none of us really know the constraints and the pressure he is under due to the uncertainty regarding the ownership issues.

[Zana Badawi]

with that club being in a hell of a worse state than the current one he is at.
No, there is no evidence Adkins will do a Leicester, 4 months into his first season here. How can there be?

Depends how you define 'in a hell of a worse state'.
Pardew left it in a decent state, was able to buy a million pound player in Division 1 and fell just short of the playoff after a points deduction. Given that Southampton are also recognised as having one of the best academies in the country, thats a pretty good set-up if you ask me. Administration doesn't automatically kill a club - just ask Palace.
If anything, the current situation at Reading is diametrically opposite to Southampton's, they were a club on the up, going in the right direction and knew what they wanted. We're on the way down, are messed up behind the scenes and have no idea what we want.

Ironically Leicester are similar to Southampton - (if they hadn't fudged their tax bill, they could well have ended up a League 1 side with aspirations as well) - Adkins would probably do very well there

Adkins may not get us to where we want to be, but I'm willing to give him a bloody chance to try.

Thats your perogative and I hope you're right, but its a cliche that every manager needs time. For the majority of times, managers that start off bad end up bad. I'd keep him because the role is currently a poisoned chalice and we might as well save the severance package. Plus if the situations behind the scenes stays the same, we'll end up being the next perfect club for Warnock, and nobody wants that.

[rob the royal]

Love the way Reading FC OS (aka Pravda) quoted Adkins' entire interview apart from that bit where he said "if the players can't run around and show some enthusiasm then something needs to be done about it."

Wouldn't want to hurt any of their feelings would we?

I heard McCleary and Cummings are still having counselling after the boos at our last home game...

[AirRaidSiren]

with that club being in a hell of a worse state than the current one he is at.
No, there is no evidence Adkins will do a Leicester, 4 months into his first season here. How can there be?

Depends how you define 'in a hell of a worse state'.
Pardew left it in a decent state, was able to buy a million pound player in Division 1 and fell just short of the playoff after a points deduction. Given that Southampton are also recognised as having one of the best academies in the country, thats a pretty good set-up if you ask me. Administration doesn't automatically kill a club - just ask Palace.
If anything, the current situation at Reading is diametrically opposite to Southampton's, they were a club on the up, going in the right direction and knew what they wanted. We're on the way down, are messed up behind the scenes and have no idea what we want.

Adkins was hired by the Southampton board to steady the ship and get them into the Championship. They were not stable at the timing of his hiring, they had lost their owner not long before. Pardew didn't succeed on what the board/owner asked of him. They had finished seventh in their first season in Division 1 (as you more or less said). Adkins first season got them into the Championship, first time, and the rest is history. With Adkins, the club were sailing in the right direction. Without him, they wouldn't be where they are now.

We're not on the way down as such, behind the scenes will be sorted and with support of the current manager, we can get to where we want to be, given time.

I agree with the administration part, at times it can revive a club, not necessarily kill it.

[AirRaidSiren]

Adkins may not get us to where we want to be, but I'm willing to give him a bloody chance to try.

Thats your perogative and I hope you're right, but its a cliche that every manager needs time. For the majority of times, managers that start off bad end up bad. I'd keep him because the role is currently a poisoned chalice and we might as well save the severance package. Plus if the situations behind the scenes stays the same, we'll end up being the next perfect club for Warnock, and nobody wants that.

Well, we need to give the guy a chance. If we're not getting anywhere this time next season, then maybe we'll have to look elsewhere. Overall, I'm not saying Adkins IS the answer long term, I'm not saying he ISN'T either, I just think that we need to be patient with him and not knee jerk, sack and be spiralling out of control.